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Jon Pierik
January 9, 2011
THE Western Bulldogs have changed their philosophy towards next month's NAB Cup as the club closes in on confirming its new captain.
After winning their opening two matches in last year's pre-season competition, and buoyed by the brilliant form of new spearhead Barry Hall, the Bulldogs opted to hone in on securing their first piece of silverware in 40 years.
They did just that with a 40-point crunching of St Kilda in the grand final, a victory that even elevated the club to equal favouritism to claim the premiership proper.
However, the energy spent appeared to contribute to an early season malaise, with the Bulldogs slipping to a 2-2 record before resurrecting their campaign, one which ended with a third straight preliminary final defeat.
After the Bulldogs trained for more than two hours in searing heat at the Whitten Oval yesterday, assistant coach Paul Williams said there would be a shift in thinking for this year's remodelled NAB Cup, beginning on February 11.
''We were definitely fit, extremely fit, for that time of the year,'' Williams recalled.
''We definitely have reviewed how we went about the pre-season and also the NAB Cup series. ''We still, no matter who we put out there, will be having a crack at it, but we will be making sure we will be 100 per cent preparing for round one.''
The Dogs last year were determined to have their players in mint condition for the start of the AFL season, but the excitement of making the pre-season final changed things. ''We were still pretty much [focused on] round one, but as you win two or three games a little bit of expectation comes out,'' Williams said.
''There hasn't been a lot of silverware at this footy club for a long time, there was a good chance to actually feel a little bit of success. That stuff is good and done now. We are very much looking forward to that first game.
''We will make sure we have a group that will be fit come the end of the year. That's the tricky bit for every side - making sure you are healthy at the right time.''
The wear and tear of a long season meant Adam Cooney missed the entire finals series, Dale Morris sat out the qualifying and semi-finals, while the likes of Brian Lake and Brad Johnson, the now retired former skipper, played hurt.
Classy small forward Shaun Higgins had his movement restricted because of thyroiditis late in the season and was forced to miss the semi- and preliminary finals.
Cooney has now accelerated his pre-season program; Lake, who has shed six kilograms, continues to make steady progress from knee, hip and shoulder surgeries, while Higgins is also healthy.
The Dogs are also closing in on naming their new captain, with the match committee to shortlist candidates this week. Robert Murphy, Daniel Giansiracusa, Matthew Boyd, Higgins, Cross and Cooney have been mentioned as candidates. The shortlist will be then reviewed by club management and the board.
CAPTAINCY CAPERS
GOLD COAST
Likely: Gary Ablett
MELBOURNE
Likely: Brad Green
SYDNEY
Likely: Adam Goodes
GEELONG
Likely: Cameron Ling
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In the running: Matthew Boyd, Bob Murphy, Daniel Giansiracusa, Daniel Cross, Shaun Higgins, Adam Cooney.
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January 9, 2011
THE Western Bulldogs have changed their philosophy towards next month's NAB Cup as the club closes in on confirming its new captain.
After winning their opening two matches in last year's pre-season competition, and buoyed by the brilliant form of new spearhead Barry Hall, the Bulldogs opted to hone in on securing their first piece of silverware in 40 years.
They did just that with a 40-point crunching of St Kilda in the grand final, a victory that even elevated the club to equal favouritism to claim the premiership proper.
However, the energy spent appeared to contribute to an early season malaise, with the Bulldogs slipping to a 2-2 record before resurrecting their campaign, one which ended with a third straight preliminary final defeat.
After the Bulldogs trained for more than two hours in searing heat at the Whitten Oval yesterday, assistant coach Paul Williams said there would be a shift in thinking for this year's remodelled NAB Cup, beginning on February 11.
''We were definitely fit, extremely fit, for that time of the year,'' Williams recalled.
''We definitely have reviewed how we went about the pre-season and also the NAB Cup series. ''We still, no matter who we put out there, will be having a crack at it, but we will be making sure we will be 100 per cent preparing for round one.''
The Dogs last year were determined to have their players in mint condition for the start of the AFL season, but the excitement of making the pre-season final changed things. ''We were still pretty much [focused on] round one, but as you win two or three games a little bit of expectation comes out,'' Williams said.
''There hasn't been a lot of silverware at this footy club for a long time, there was a good chance to actually feel a little bit of success. That stuff is good and done now. We are very much looking forward to that first game.
''We will make sure we have a group that will be fit come the end of the year. That's the tricky bit for every side - making sure you are healthy at the right time.''
The wear and tear of a long season meant Adam Cooney missed the entire finals series, Dale Morris sat out the qualifying and semi-finals, while the likes of Brian Lake and Brad Johnson, the now retired former skipper, played hurt.
Classy small forward Shaun Higgins had his movement restricted because of thyroiditis late in the season and was forced to miss the semi- and preliminary finals.
Cooney has now accelerated his pre-season program; Lake, who has shed six kilograms, continues to make steady progress from knee, hip and shoulder surgeries, while Higgins is also healthy.
The Dogs are also closing in on naming their new captain, with the match committee to shortlist candidates this week. Robert Murphy, Daniel Giansiracusa, Matthew Boyd, Higgins, Cross and Cooney have been mentioned as candidates. The shortlist will be then reviewed by club management and the board.
CAPTAINCY CAPERS
GOLD COAST
Likely: Gary Ablett
MELBOURNE
Likely: Brad Green
SYDNEY
Likely: Adam Goodes
GEELONG
Likely: Cameron Ling
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In the running: Matthew Boyd, Bob Murphy, Daniel Giansiracusa, Daniel Cross, Shaun Higgins, Adam Cooney.
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